First National Millet Day celebrated in Bhaktapur

KATHMANDU: The first nationally celebrated Millet Day-2082 concluded successfully in Tathali, Changunarayan Municipality-9, Bhaktapur District, on Friday.

The government this year declared Shrawan 16 as National Millet Day to underline the crop’s importance at a national level.

The event was organised through a joint initiative of Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development (MOALD), Changunarayan Municipality, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO),National Farmers Group Federation (NFGF) and the Association of Nepali Agricultural Journalists (ANAJ).

The ceremony was chaired by Prakash Kumar Sanjel, Director General of the Department of Agriculture and Chair of the Millet Day Main Ceremony Committee. Agriculture Minister Ramnath Adhikari attended as chief guest.

Also present were Ken Shimizu, FAO Country Representative for Nepal; MOALD Secretaries Govinda Prasad Sharma and Deepak Kumar Kharal; Dr Krishna Prasad Timsina, Executive Director of the Nepal Agricultural Research Council (NARC); Changunarayan Municipality Mayor Jeevan Khatri; farmer leader Bijay Lama; agricultural experts; journalists; and hundreds of local farmers.

Addressing the ceremony, Minister Adhikari urged every Nepali to consume millet dishes at least once a day to maintain good health. “We can treat illnesses now, but our future generations might be born with them,” he said. “Therefore, including a millet dish in our kitchen ensures a healthy life.” He added that linking millet farming to income generation would require farmers, policymakers and stakeholders to unite in its promotion.

Director General Sanjel explained that the government had declared the day by prioritising millet as a strategic crop and thanked ANAJ and NFGF for their active roles. He pledged that MOALD would implement millet-promotion programmes with even greater priority.

Dr Ramkrishna Shrestha, Joint Secretary at MOALD and indigenous-crop expert, described the decision to promote millet as a climate-change-friendly, sustainable crop as historic and far-sighted, emphasising its importance for food security, nutrition and environmental sustainability.

Govinda Prasad Sharma, Secretary at MOALD, noted that millet had long been considered a neglected crop but that public awareness of its nutritional, environmental and economic benefits is growing. “Millet is now being accepted as the best grain in the world,” he said. Mayor Khatri added that he was proud the first National Millet Day was held in his municipality and pledged to prioritise traditional crops such as millet at municipal level.

Dr Timsina highlighted the rising demand for millet and stressed the need to include it in crop-rotation cycles. FAO’s Ken Shimizu affirmed that FAO’s support for millet promotion continues, “After the United Nations declared millet an international crop in 2023, we have been working on this with priority. It is a pleasure that the Government of Nepal has declared National Millet Day. FAO will continue to provide support in the coming days.”

Bijay Lama, Chairperson of NFGF Bagmati Province, observed that millet, once neglected, has become sought after by wealthier consumers. He said cultivation in Changunarayan area will be prioritised and expanded. The day was celebrated under the slogan “A diet of millet dishes: the basis of food security and a healthy life”, and guests marked the occasion by planting millet in a field near the venue.

According to MOALD data, in fiscal year 2023/24, millet was cultivated on 224,935 hectares in Nepal, yielding 300,732 tonnes at an average productivity of 1.33 tonnes per hectare. Experts say that, with improved irrigation, seeds, technology and greater public awareness, production and consumption could rise significantly.

Self-sufficiency remains a concern. In fiscal year 2024/25, Nepal imported 18,316 tonnes of millet-based products worth about Rs 766.3 million, while exporting just 70 tonnes, according to the Department of Customs.

Institutions and individuals contributing to millet promotion were honoured at the ceremony. Kodali Venture received a special honour for active female participation, and NFGF and ANAJ were presented with letters of appreciation. Journalists also received the Millet News Writing Award – 2082.

Farmer Kabita Joshi, who promotes red millet in Jumla District and preserves seeds, was honoured with a certificate and cash prize of Rs 15,000.

Millet Day, which was unofficially celebrated until last year, has been formally and nationally commemorated this year. Participants said its status as a national day will enable more institutional and scientific promotion.